Geoff Thompson (snooker player)

Geoff Thompson (born 1929) is an English former professional snooker player.

Geoffrey Thompson
Born1929 (age 93–94)
Sport countryEngland

Career

Thompson was born in 1929.[1] He started playing cue sports on a scaled-down table aged eight or nine, and on a full-sized billiard table from the age of 13. After serving in the armed forces, Thompson won a local English billiards competition in his home town of Leicester, and was runner-up in the 1952 CIU snooker championship to L.F. Taylor.[2]

Having been runner-up CIU final again in 1953, and working as a telephone engineer, Thompson was competing for the first time in the English Amateur Championship when he eliminated the defending champion Tommy Gordon 3–2[3] and went on to win the title with an 11–9 victory over Cliff Wilson in the final.[4] Due to ill health he withdrew from the 1955 tournament and so was unable to defend the title.[5] In the 1962 championship he compiled a break of 115, a new world record for an officially-recognised amateur break.[6] He was invited to participate in the 1962–63 Television Tournament and, receiving 11 points start in each frame under the handicapping system used, defeated professional Rex Williams 3–0,[7] before losing 2–3 to Ron Gross.[8] In 1966 and 1969 he won the CIU championship.[9]

He turned professional in 1970.[10] He played Maurice Parkin in the first qualifying round for the 1972 World Snooker Championship and lost 10–11, and was defeated 5–9 by Graham Miles in the first round of the 1972 World Snooker Championship. His last World Snooker Championship appearance was in 1974, where he was eliminated 3–8 by Bill Werbeniuk.[11]

In 1953 he compiled a break of 141, but it was not recognised as a record as the billiard table did not meet the standards required by the Billiards Association and Control Council. At the time, the highest officially recognised break by an amateur was 104.[2][12]

Career finals
Outcome Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Winner 1954 English Amateur Championship  Cliff Wilson (WAL) 11–9 [13]

References
  1. Kobylecky, John (2019). The Complete International Directory of Snooker Players – 1927 to 2018. Kobyhadrian Books. p. 238. ISBN 978-0993143311.
  2. "Geoffrey Thompson". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. May 1953. p. 15.
  3. "First time entrant beats English Amateur Champion". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 17 March 1954. p. 8.
  4. "Snooker drama of the potted pink". Leicester Evening Mail. 31 March 1954. p. 12.
  5. "Nolan puts Driffield out of billiards championship". Halifax Evening Courier. 7 February 1955. p. 1.
  6. "City cueman sets up world's best". Leicester Evening Mail. 9 March 1962. p. 12.
  7. "B.A. & C.C. Television Tournament: Geoff. Thompson's easy win over Rex Williams". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. January 1963. p. 10.
  8. "Ron Gross in television final". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. February 1963. p. 9.
  9. Morrison, Ian (1986). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker. Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. p. 158. ISBN 0600501922.
  10. "B.A. & C.C. Official". Billiards and Snooker. Billiards and Snooker Control Council. 1970. p. 16.
  11. Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Lowestoft: Rose Villa Publications. p. 948. ISBN 978-0954854904.
  12. "Amateur snooker c'ship prospects". The Billiard Player. Billiards Association and Control Council. March 1954. p. 9.
  13. Everton, Clive (1985). Guinness Snooker – The Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 122. ISBN 0851124488.
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